The Sheep’s Head Way won silver in the Best Destination category at Irish Responsible Tourism Awards in Dublin on October 6, the second time that the world-renowned walking route has gained the accolade. The responsible tourism awards celebrate tourism that is good for visitors but also benefits the local community and environment.

It’s been an award-studded season for the area: Bantry’s Maritime Hotel is part of the Gleneagle Group, which won an award for Accessible and Inclusive Tourism at the awards; Carbery Guest Lodge B&B was recently named as Georgina Campbell’s B&B of the Year, and Gallán Mór B&B was named as a ‘Little Gem’ in the 2016 Michelin Guide.

“The remarkable thing about the Sheep’s Head Way is that it has been focused on high-quality sustainable tourism since it was founded 20 years ago,” says Siobhan Burke, marketing co-ordinator for the Sheep’s Head and Bantry Tourism Co-operative. “When Jim Leonard, Tom Whitty, James O’Mahony, and all the landowners on the Sheep’s Head established the walk, their aim was to share the beauty of the Sheep’s Head peninsula with visitors in a way that would bring real long-term benefits to the community here.”

“Since then, initiatives like the Sheep’s Head Producers Market and our co-op have drawn on the same principles to develop authentic and meaningful experiences for visitors that benefit local people and are respectful of our environment.”

The award is a fantastic accolade for everyone along the Sheep’s Head Way and in particular it recognises the work of the tourism co-op which promotes the area’s 200km trail network. The co-op works closely with a range of craft, food, activity, and accommodation businesses throughout the year to develop products that make the most of the area’s strengths and promote them on national and international stages.

At the awards, Fáilte Ireland’s Paddy Mathews, head of the organisation’s environmental unit, noted that regions like the Sheep’s Head and Clare’s Loop Head where tourism is being promoted by ‘community animators’ are the ones that are benefitting most from the Wild Atlantic Way.

“When we work together, and co-ordinate the ways we work with agencies like Fáilte Ireland, we’re able to create really powerful messages about what makes our area unique,’ explains John Tobin, chairman of the tourism co-op. “We’re hugely grateful to the West Cork Development Partnership for having the vision and foresight to fund our animator role three years ago. Support from our fantastic co-op members and Cork County Council, have also been invaluable in helping us to keep that work going. We were delighted to win a special commendation for innovation at the Irish Tourism Industry Awards this year, and, as other areas respond to the potential of the Wild Atlantic Way with similar initiatives, it’s really vital that we continue to build on the work we’re doing here.”

“Tourists don’t necessarily want to know every last detail of how we minimise waste and save energy,” says Siobhán, “but they do care passionately about visiting places which are properly protected and cherished by the people who live there. They want powerful and pure experiences that give them genuine insights into places and communities.”

“It’s fantastic that we were able to take to the stage in Dublin and show that West Cork can provide those experiences for everyone who visits us here. When we work together and share the best of what we love about where we live,” adds Siobhán, “we’re creating the kind of tourism that is rewarding for everyone involved.”

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The inaugural Ballineen Foróige Young Engineers Exhibition will take place in Gort Mhuire Hall in Ballineen this Friday 23rd February. As part of Engineers Week 2018, leaders and members of Ballineen Foróige Club have organised an exhibition which will showcase a diverse and exciting range of engineering projects that have been undertaken by members of the club over the last few weeks, with the aid of leaders and a number of local engineers.

With the aid of local pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, along with the support of STEAM Education, a UCC based company focused on promoting science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths subjects in primary schools, Ballineen Foróige has been engaging members and leaders in all things engineering over the last six weeks. From researching, designing, and prototyping a project based on local problems, to participating in various workshops on coding and careers in engineering, Ballineen Foróige have been extremely busy in preparation for the exhibition this coming Friday night.

On the night itself, Michael Loftus, Head of Engineering at CIT, Fintan Goold, Manager at Eli Lilly and All-Ireland Cork winning Footballer, along with Geraldine Coughlan of GCA Architects & Designers, a local business, will act as judges on the night, evaluating the different engineering projects and offering some advice to the members of the club. Also in attendance will be the CEO of Foróige Seán Campbell, along with a number of local councillors, TD’s and Senators.

Leading the team of Ballineen Foróige leaders organising the event, is Rebecca Dwyer, a bioprocess engineer at Eli Lilly. Rebecca recently became a leader in the club and says that Ballineen Foróige Young Engineer Exhibition 2018 “promises to be a fun, challenging and rewarding experience for all involved and we look forward to welcoming parents, relatives, friends and members of the public to the exhibition and film screening on the evening of Friday 23rd February.” Overall, there are twelve projects entered in the exhibition. One project, led by Cian Kennefick and Charlie Nolan, members of the starting out club, examines the possibility of installing speed ramps on the road near local primary school. Fourteen-year-old Charlie says he got involved in the project as it was something to do and it gets you thinking. Cian says the most exciting part of the project was the building of the prototypes.

Both Cian and Charlie, along with thirty other members of the club will display their projects this coming Friday 23 February in Gort Mhuire Hall in Ballineen. Doors open at 8pm and the event runs until 10pm. All are welcome to attend, and admission is free. Catering, including tea and coffee, will be provided on the night. ... See MoreSee Less

Check out this new upbeat indie-folk track Edges, released today from Inni-K with a video by Myles O'Reilly. Inni-K will be performing at Levis’, Ballydehob on Saturday 24th February, with support from Sam Clague.

“The Viking Gold and Silver Hoards from County Cork” is the topic of the next Dúchas Clonakilty Heritage lecture on Thursday 22nd at the Parish Centre starting at 8pm.

It will be delivered by John Sheehan, senior lecturer in the Archaeology Department, UCC and a former member of the Heritage Council and the Board of the National Museum of Ireland.

The Vikings were an important presence in Ireland for over two centuries. As well as inflicting great terror they were also responsible for introducing urbanism and new economic systems to the country.

In this talk the focus will be on the economy, looking at the gold and silver hoards that were buried in Co. Cork. It will also explore how these hoards were discovered, what happened to them, and where they are now! ... See MoreSee Less

Bandon Toastmasters is a club that helps people overcome Glossophobia, a fear of public speaking. The club is holding a night of inspirational and motivational speakers on February 22 that is a must for anybody wishing to overcome this phobia. Tickets can be purchased either on the club's facebook page or through eventbrite.